Screen



L. SIMON.

SCREEN.

I APPLICATION FILED DEC. l7; I915- 1,364,457. I Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET WITNESSES v I v I INVENTOI? fifi k of.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IN IE IV TOR WITNESSES :E fi i/MIL A TTORIVEIS umreo STATES OFFICE.

LEOPOIJD SIMON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SCREEN.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed December 17,.1915. Serial No. 67,333.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEoPoLaS i oN, a citizen of the United States, residlng at New York city, in the county of New York provision of a practical and eflicient device.

of the character referred to, which may be readily operated. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a screen having a plurality of louvers, with a simple device for setting the louvers in different positions.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. v

in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. 1; I Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the means for attaching the fabriG; 7 Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are details of the guide ways for the ends of the blind; and Fig. 8 is a detail of the construction of the door for closing the containersfor the blind;

The numerals 1, 1 indicate oppositely disposed parallel guides, in the present embodiment comprising a pair of channels, or channel bars, held an adjustable distance apart by top and bottom braces 2, 2 embodying the turnbuckles 3, 3 so as to head justable in length to vary the distance between the guides 1, 1. i be secured in proper position in or OPPOSltQ These guides may r a window frame, door opening, skylight,

porch openlng, etc., in any suitable manner,

and with the braces 2, 2 forming a generally rectangular frame, ofwhich the guides 1, 1 form two sides and the braces 2, 2 the other two sides. V v

.' The numerals 4, 4 indicate a plurality, in the present case a pair of lazy-tongs disposed opposite each other and guided in the1r extending and contracting movements by means of the channels 1, 1 and members,

as pins 5, projecting from the lazy-tongs in axial alinement with the axes of the levers 6 ofthe lazy-tongs, these pins serving as fulcrums of the lazy-tongs and engaging the guides 1,1. In order to reduce friction between the lazy-tongs and the guides 1, balls 7 are provided, these balls being loosely supported by the pins 5, by means of rings 8 .carried by said pins, or some of them, and

being rotatable in said rings, within said channel bars, which latter are preferably I \hollow bars partially circular in cross section having slots 9, through. which the pins 5 extend. Between the levers (land the guides 1 washers 10 are interposed and lie against flanges 11 on said pins. For the purpose of fixing the distance between the opposite lazy-tongs, and permitting adjustment of this distance to avoid binding in the guidesand tenslon certaln screen members hereinafter referred to, braces 12 having turnbuckles 13 are employed. The braces 12 connect the-lazy-tongs, serving as fulcrums for the top and bottom levers. Two cables 14 are connected toeach of the lower rings of each tongs, and extend upward over pulleys 15, 15, the opposite ends of the cables being connected to counterweights 16 in the passages 17, 17..

To oppositely disposed levers of each lazy-tongs the screen members or louvers 18 are connected. Viewing the invention in some aspects, these screen members may be composed of any suitable material, as wood, metal, glass, etc., but it is preferred to make these members collapsible, and preferably of flexible fabric, as canvas or similar flexible material. The canvas screen members are connected to but one series of levers of each lazy-tongs so that the several screen members are in generally parallel relation, and are movable toward and from each other longitudinally of the lazy-tongs, as well as angularly relative to 'a predetermined plane, as will be apparent. The members 18 are lazy-tongs are in'extended position.

preferably of such widthas to cause succestongs may be moved relatively toward or from each other so as to Vary the tension of thefscreen members and obtain a taut condition thereof. The elasticity of the parts is ordinarily sufficient to permit this variable relation between the lazy-tongs, al-. though sufiicient play between the lazy-tongs and the guides 1 may be provided for to permit this adjustment.

Ordinarily one end of the lazy-tongs will be securely fastened at the upper part of the window or other opening to which the device may be applied. This may'be effected by means of a suitable supporting device, as

a pivoted hook or hooks 19 depending from the window frame and receiving the brace 12. In the present embodiment these hooks depend from the upper brace 2, which supports a hood 20 fastened thereto and overlying the lazy-tongs, providing a chamber of sufficient size to receive the lazy-tongs and the screens when upwardly collapsed.

The upper end of the slot 9 may be closed in any suitable manner to take the thrust in the operation of collapsing the device. At 21 is a door having pintles 22 slidable in a guide channel 23 having a slot 21 through which the pintles 22 may pass. By lifting this door slightly the lower pintle may be passed through the slot '21 and the door' lowered until the upper pintle .bears at the lower end of the channel 22, whereupon this pintle will serve as a hinge member permit ting the door to be swung into position to close the hood, in which position it may be secured by a latch 23 and serve to support the tongs and screens when shut. When the tongs are in extended position, they may be secured in this position by a second hook or hooks 24 which may be made to overlie the lower'brace 12, and similarly these latter hooks may be pivoted to the lower brace 2, and a hood 25, having a door 26, may be provided as for the upper part of the window. If desired, the hoods 20 and 25 may be sunk in the window frame at the upper and lower parts thereof. It is obvious that by disconnecting the hooks 19 the tongs and screen members may be collapsed downwardly and received in the lower hood, and that the hooks 19 and 24 provide detachable means to hold either end of the lazy-tongs against movement toward the opposite end.

lVhile any suitable means may be employed to secure the screen members to the levers of the lazy-tongs, it is found that a clasp, the elements of which are illustrated in Fig. 3, possesses special advantages in an apparatus of this nature. This clasp comprises a member having angularly disposed ward the wall27, but leaving an opening or space 31 between the edges of the parts 30 and the wall 27 through which opening the flexible screen member may extend.

The parts 28,29 and 30 form a slot or way 32 for the reception of a stiffening member 33, composed of a pieceof light but strong material, as wood, around which an end of a screen niember 18 is folded, the end of the member being preferably overlapped by the folded material so as to present two thicknesses ofthis material, as seen at 34:. These folds having been made around the stiffening member or holder 33, these parts, as so related, are inserted in the' slot 32, the opposite ends of the stiffening member being received within the slot. A keeper comprising walls 35 and 36 providing a slot 37 is preferably madofsheet metal and is slid into position so that one wall, as 37 lies in the slot 33 between the folded fabric and the -wall 30, the parts 30 taking into the slot of the keeper. In this wise the screen member 18 is held in the slot 32 and may be readily removed and replaced. It is to be under stood that each endof each screen member is secured to the respective tongs lever in the manner just described, and that the clasps may be separate devices fixed to the levers of the lazy-tongs, or the. lazy-tongs .levers may each be composed of bars shaped to provide the slot 32. The ends of one wall of the keeper are prolonged and flexible, as indicated at 38, and when the keeper is in securing position, the ends 38 may be bent widely diiferent embodiments of this lnvention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. v It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific. features of. the invention hereindescribed and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters members, means adapted to move said screen members toward and from each other and angularly' relative to a predetermined plane comprising a lazy-tongs to the levers of. which said screen members are respectively connected, means adapted to guide the lazytongs in its movement, said last-mentioned means comprising a channel, ball supports forming fulcrums for 'the levers of said lazy-tongs, washers between said levers and said channel, and balls rotatably disposed in said supports. I

2. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, in combination, a plurality of collapsible screen members, means adapted to move said screen membersltowardand from each other and angularly relative to a predetermined plane comprising a plurality of oppositely disposed lazy-tongs to levers of each of which said screen members are connected, and means adapted to adjust the dis tance between said lazy-tongs.

3. In an apparatus of the character de-' scribed, in combination, a plurality of screen members, means adapted to move said screen members toward and from each other and angularly relatively to a predetermined plane comprising a plurality of oppositely disposed'lazy-tongs to levers of each of which said. screen members are connected, and pivoted hooks disposed adjacent either end of said lazy-tongs and to which the opposite ends of said lazy-tongs may be at tached. a

4. in an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric.

screen members connected to levers of said lazy-tongs, and adapted to move toward and from each other as the lazy-tongs are extended and contracted, guides with which said lazy-tongs. are cooperatively associated during their extending and contracting movements, and means adapted to adjust the distance between said guides.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of oppositely tongs, and adapted to move toward and from each other as the lazy-tongs are extended and contracted, and a generally rectangular frame in which said tongs are mounted, two opposite sides of said frame comprising channel bars in which the axial pins of the lazy-tongs are guided during the extension and contraction of said tongs, and the other two sides of said frame comprising brace members adjustable in length to vary the distance between said channel bars.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric screen members connected to levers of. said to adjust the distance betw lazy-tongs and adapted to move toward and from each other asthe lazy-tongs areextended andcontracted, and means adapted en said lazytongs. 7. In an apparatus of the character de-. scribed, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric screen members connected to levers of said lazy-tongs and adapted to move toward and from each other as the lazy-tongs are extended and contracted, and means adapted to adjust the distance between said lazy- 'tongs comprising longitudinally extensible braces connecting said lazy-tongs at either end thereof.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination,a pair of oppositely disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric screen members connected to levers of said lazy-tongs and adapted to move toward and from each othercas thelazy-tongs are extended and contracted, guides with which said lazy-tongs are cooperatively associated during their extending and contracting movements, means adapted to adjust the distance between said guides, and means adapted to adjust thedistanc'e between said lazytongs.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric screen members connected to levers of said lazy-tongs and adapted to move toward and lazy-tongs at either end thereof. disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric screen :members connected to levers of said lazy 10. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric screen members connected to levers of said lazy-tongs and adapted to move toward and from each other as the lazy-tongs are extended and contracted, means adapted to hold either end of said lazy-tongs against movement toward the opposite end. I

11. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a .pair of oppositely 126 disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric screen members connected to levers of said lazy-tongs and adapted to move toward and from each other as the lazy-tongs are extended and contracted, a generally rectan- 130 the extension 105 and detachable .gular frame in which said tongs are mounted, two opposite sides of said frame comprising channel bars in which the axial pins of the lazy-tongs are guided during the exmeans adapted to adjust the distance be tween said lazy-tongs comprisinglongitudinally extensible braces connecting said lazytongs at either end.the.reof,.and detachable means adapted to hold either end of said lazy-tongs against movement toward the opposite end.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed lazy-tongs and flexible fabric screen members connected to levers of said lazy-tongs, and adapted to move toward and from each other as the lazy-tongs areexmeans adapted to guide the lazy tongs in its,

movement comprising a channel, pins form-' ing fulcrum points for said lazy tongs and having ball supporting rings entering said channels, and balls in said channel supported by said rings.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, 1n the presence of two witnesses.

V LEOPOLD si oN.

, Witnesses:

HELEN M. SEAMANS,

M. E. MILLET; 

